Nike store employee accused of theft wears Nike T-shirt to hearing

A suburban teen was arrested Sunday after he allegedly was caught stealing over $700 worth of merchandise from a city Nike store.

Jaelon Wilson, 19, of Alsip, Ill., was working at the Nike Store at 8510 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Sunday afternoon when Nike employees called Chicago police officers to arrest him for allegedly stealing goods from the store using his privileges to make store gift cards.

County prosecutor said Wilson would create gift cards at his post at the South Side outpost, without paying for them, and then spend the money on those gifts cards at another local Nike outlet.

Wilson, who was charged with retail theft, was brought to the Cook County Criminal Courthouse Monday afternoon, wearing a teal Nike shirt, and released on a $10,000 I-bond with electronic home monitoring.